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SALT LAKE CITY — A new one-hour limit on the public comment period during Salt Lake City Council meetings is drawing fire from members of the pro-Palestinian contingent pushing for a symbolic resolution calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.
The public comment period "is one of the most effective ways to make the collective voice heard, and the council just unanimously voted to restrict how we can engage during meetings," En Canada, one of the cease-fire advocates, said in a statement Friday. "It begs the question: Does Salt Lake City Council care about the people's collective voice?"
A vocal contingent pressing for a cease-fire resolution in the Israeli war effort in Gaza has appeared regularly at City Council meetings since last December to push the cause, sometimes in loud, raucous fashion. They, along with defenders of Israel, gave three hours of comments at the Feb. 20, meeting, when the City Council ultimately adopted a resolution urging U.S. and international leaders to press for a "lasting peace" in the Middle East, among other things.
A City Council official on Saturday defended the city's new public comment policy, noting the varied ways the public has to provide feedback. The new one-hour limit falls within state statute. "The council goes above and beyond in terms of methods for receiving public input — that's part of the reason we feel strongly we are preserving our constituents' First Amendment rights," said Whitney González Fernández, who handles communications for the council.
In approving the one-hour limit this past Tuesday, a council statement called it a move "to preserve our ability to effectively conduct city business and maintain a safe and welcoming public forum for all constituents." The time restriction doesn't apply to formal comment periods during public hearings on matters of official deliberation before the City Council.
And even if Canada and others don't like it — many critical of the change jeered and heckled the City Council after approval of the time limit — the one-hour allotted for public comment is longer than allowed in some locales. The Salt Lake City Council will also accept comments via email, telephone and the City Council website.
The Provo City Council, for example, sets aside 15 minutes at each meeting for public comment, with a two-minute limit per person. The West Valley and Riverton city councils set aside 30 minutes at their meetings for public comment. Marriott-Slaterville doesn't allow public comment during meetings "except at the sole discretion of the presiding officer." As with other locales, comments are accepted during formal public hearings.
Other cities, including Ogden, don't have specific time limits, as was the case in Salt Lake City before Tuesday's decision.
In Friday's statement, Canada and Ambreen Khan, another pro-Palestinian advocate, called on the Salt Lake City Council to reverse the decision limiting public comments. They also called on the body to pass "a meaningful resolution" in favor of a cease-fire in Gaza.
The statement charged that the one-hour limit was implemented in response to the pro-Palestinian advocates' calls for a cease-fire. It also noted an "increased police presence and surveillance measures" at last Tuesday's meeting.
"The one lever of meaningful and legal pressure the local community has is now defunct, enabling the council to be less democratic and responsive to their constituents. This not only silences the community's voice on Palestine but also works to further silence all Salt Lakers in the future," the Canada and Khan statement reads.
Salt Lake City Council Chairwoman Victoria Petro said earlier this week that extra-long meetings caused by public commenting can strain city resources. A legal rep for the city said the change doesn't overstep free speech rights.
Canada, meantime, still plans to speak out. "We will still be going for as long as they let us," Canada said.
